Quick question re: UVB tube

[lori2plus1]

I'm not mechanically inclined, so I'm a little confused by it all. I'm getting a setup with a 40-gal breeder tank with a T8 fixture and Reptisun 10.0 tube. Do I need to find a way to mount it inside the tank or will it be okay to put it on top of the screen?

 

[Wolfeden]

The T8 bulb is not strong enough to provide adequate UVB through screen mesh.
That's why it's recommended to hang it inside the enclosure at a distance of 6-8" away from the dragon.

MAYBE, with a good reflective fixture you could get further away but not on top of the screen cover.

The T5 bulbs are much more powerful and CAN be used on top of a screen cover.

 

[lori2plus1]

I was thinking T5 and T8 describe the fixture, not the bulb... ? If I want to keep the fixture outside the screen, do I need a new fixture or a new tube? Or both? :?

 

[Wolfeden]

The bulbs and fixtures are different sizes, so a T5 bulb needs a T5 fixture and a T8 bulb a T8 fixture. They're not interchangeable.

 

[lori2plus1]

Ahhh, okay, I didn't catch that. Thank you!